The new COVID-19 vaccines have been launched, so every little bit helps while the country tries to get back to normal. With that said, it is as bad a time as any to know that a Wisconsin pharmacist allegedly sabotaged more than 500 doses of the Modern vaccine. This number is very important, as the process per person requires two doses.
In a press release posted on Facebook, the Grafton Police Department said they were called to Advocate Aurora Health Hospital in Grafton on Wednesday for a report that a former employee intentionally removed vaccines from cold storage and left them out during in the evening. Health professionals said this made 570 doses “useless”, the police said.
By the way, it was previously believed to be an accident, but Aurora Health said they found out that the pharmacist did it on purpose. The former employee in question reportedly admitted in writing that he purposely omitted the vaccine, knowing that vaccines stored incorrectly would be spoiled. The detectives suggested that the defendant knew that spoiled vaccines would be useless and that people who received them would think they were vaccinated, when in fact they were not.
Law enforcement officials said 57 of these doses were administered to patients, but citing health officials, there would be no health problems due to the deterioration. The amount lost was estimated to be between $ 8,000 and $ 11,000.
The Grafton Police Department did not identify the defendant, saying he should be formally informed of his charges. They just said he was a “former Aurora Health employee”, who was arrested for recklessly putting security at first-degree risk, tampering with a prescription drug and criminal property damage. They mentioned that he was being held in Ozaukee County Prison. As noted earlier, a Steven Brandenburg is in Ozaukee County Prison.
The records seen by Law & Crime show that he is being detained on two counts: a second-degree one that recklessly puts security at risk and criminal damage to property. He was arrested on Thursday. The online records mention a “Steven R. Brandenburg” as a pharmacist in the village of Saukville, which is in Ozaukee County. In any case, it is not clear whether inmate Bradenburg has a lawyer.
[Screengrab via TMJ4 News]
Do you have a tip we should know? [email protected]